If you didn’t know it by the $400 ticket prices, Georgia will play Alabama this weekend in “Blackout III” with the College Football Game Day rock stars broadcasting on-site.
Dressing for the occasion, Georgia will wear the special black jerseys it did in the original Blackout last year against Auburn and then again in the successful sequel against Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.
Likewise, Bulldogs fans have also been asked to go Goth and wear all black Saturday.
We could very well be witnessing the grandest Georgia-Alabama game since 1976 when the Bulldogs beat the Tide 21-0 in front of one the most historic, raucous home atmospheres in Athens. Thirty-two years later, the Georgia fandom is awaiting this one like the female world awaits the premiere of “Nights in Rodanthe.”
But unlike a chick flick, there will be blood in this thing.
The shots have already been fired across the bow between the two border state schools.
Alabama conditioning coach Scott Cochran was caught on tape earlier this week saying, "They're wearing black because they're going to a (compound expletive) funeral.”
Coyly, Mark Richt showed up for his press conference yesterday dressed in black and remarked that he was attending a funeral.
As if this fire needed any more Duraflame logs.
Funerals and bulletin board material aside, this collision of top 10 SEC teams should worry Bulldog fans.
For starters, how is Georgia to protect Matthew Stafford from the wrath of the Crimson Tide and Nick Saban who is a defensive guru? By the way, Alabama’s beast of a nose tackle, Terrence Cody, weights around 370-lbs.
We saw how bad a good defense can make Georgia look when it scored just one touchdown two weeks ago against South Carolina.
The difference in this game? Alabama can play some offense.
Also worrisome is that the Game Day hype will be quite the distraction for UGA.
Players have likely been fielding interview requests from national media all week and answering calls from everyone they’ve ever known wanting tickets.
Sometimes hosting a big game like this is more of a curse than a blessing.
For Alabama, this is a business trip. And these games are the reason the Crimson Tide pays Saban $4 million.
The SEC’s winningest program won’t come into Sanford Stadium hoping to win. Alabama expects it.
Blackout III might be a bust.
PREDICTION: Alabama 20, Georgia 10
In other college football action,
Auburn beats Tennessee adding more sparks to the already flammable Phil Fulmer situation;
Miami beats its former coach, Butch Davis, in North Carolina’s meeting with the Hurricanes;
Florida State eeks by Colorado; and
Virginia Tech picks up a nice road win at Nebraska.
As for the prep football ranks …
Madison County vs. Salem: As an outsider looking in, the Raiders seem to need this victory Friday night more than the Seminoles do after last week.
Madison County gave up 25 unanswered points in a 19-point loss to Cedar Shoals Sept. 19. The Raiders will be seeking atonement for the rough night in Athens.
Meanwhile, Salem has won two straight.
Tough one to call, but the defending region co-champs will still be a little too much for Madison County in Conyers.
PREDICTION: Salem 24, Madison County 20
